Koh Samui - Early Stages of Policy Evaluation of Green Island Draft - Research Proposal Example

EARLY STAGES OF POLICY EVALUATION OF GREEN ISLAND PROJECT: KOH SAMUI’S (THAILAND) Name: Grade Course: Tutor’s Name: (03, December, 2010) Table of Contents Chapter 1 4 1.0 Introduction 4 1.1 Statement and significant problems 4 1.2. Research questions 4 1.3. Research objectives 5 1.4. Scope of study 6 1.5. Research limitations 6 1.6. Definitions 7 1.7. Benefits of the Study 8 Chapter 2 9 2.0 Literature review 9 2.1 Concepts and Theories Related Dependent Variable 9 2.2 Research finding 10 2.3 Conceptual Framework 12 2.4 Hypothesis 13 Chapter 3 15 3.0 Research Methodology 15 3.1 Qualitative Research Methods 15 3.1.1 Documentary research 15 3.1.2 Observation 16 3.1.3 Participation 16 3.1.4 Focus Groups 17 3.1.5 In-depth Interview 17 3.1.6 Population and Sampling 18 3.1.7 Data Analysis 18 Chapter 4 19 4.0 Data Collection 19 Reference 21 Early Stages Of Policy Evaluation Of Green Island Project: Koh Samui’s (Thailand) Chapter 1 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Statement and significant problems The tropical island of Koh is widely known because of its charm. The process of developing and encouraging the growth of this area to be a tourism destination has not at all included any plan of compensating the increasing usage of public facilities, and forcing the limited natural resources of the island to take care of the greatly increased number of visiting tourists has really led to a serious problem. There area has refuse problems and water problems. There are also problem of traffic congestion, on top of culture deterioration in the area. (Thegreenislandproject, 2010) has clearly states that more than 400 big hotels have been constructed on the island, offering around 16,000 rooms. The consumption of water as per now stands at 18,000m3 to 22,000m3 per day, wastewater entering purification processor stands at 5,754m3 per day. Trash generation is 12 tons, while the current refuse facilities holds 130 tons per day. In the recent past, statistics has also shown that there has been a rise in traffic accidents. To solve these, refuse problems, there is need to consider the following factors reuse, reduce, rethink and even recycle. For traffic, road widening can be one factor. 1.2. Research questions 1. What has been done to prevent the accumulation of garbage, chemical contaminants and other pollutants? 2. What has been done to prevent insufficient water resources and prevent deterioration of existing water sources? 3. What has been put in place to deal with ecology damage of seas and beaches? 4. What has been placed to deal with the problems of congestion, air and noise pollution, and vehicle overloading? 5. What is has been done to deal with culture deterioration? 1.3. Research objectives The major objective of this dissertation is to evaluate the policies Of Green Island Project: Koh Samui. Specific objectives include; 1. To evaluate policies set to prevent the accumulation of garbage, chemical contaminants and other pollutants. 2. To evaluate placed policies that prevent insufficient water resources and prevent deterioration of existing water sources. 3. To evaluate policies that deals with ecology damage of seas and beaches. 4. To evaluate policies placed to deal with the problems of congestion, air and noise pollution, and vehicle overloading. 5. To evaluate policies set to deal with culture deterioration. 1.4. Scope of study The study is developed to cover five questions that can help in the evaluation of the policies of Greenland Island that will include all stakeholders in the area so as to maintain a sustainable ecosystem and reduce conflicts. Firstly it aims to establish what has been done to prevent the accumulation of garbage, chemical contaminants and other pollutants in the island by all the stakeholders and beneficiaries of the ecosystem. Secondly it focuses on the measures of prevention to avoid insufficient water resources and prevent deterioration of existing water sources. Thirdly it evaluates what measures have been put in place to deal with ecology damage of seas and beaches. It also addresses the problems of congestion, air and noise pollution, and vehicle overloading in the area which must be addressed in order to avoid conflicts of interests. It also addresses culture deterioration and what can and has been started so far in order to sustain cultural diversity. It mainly evaluates the policies Of Green Island Project: Koh Samui specifically detailing the five areas mentioned above of successful evaluation of Green Island project which is meeting the need of ecotourism policy in Koh Samui, Thailand. 1.5. Research limitations This study wills needed much traveling hence will face time shortages and traveling money. Since the work load of data collection is huge, the study might experience insufficient human resources and documentaries. Since the project is still new, there might be fewer theories as few people have carried out research on the same. Other limitations that may face the study include; changes in tourist seasons and importance. 1.6. Definitions As stated in kohsamuiholiday.com, 2010 “Spearheaded by the Koh Samui Tourism Promotion Association, the Thai Hotels Association Southeastern Chapter and Samui Spa Association, with the full support of provincial authorities, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the “Green Island Project – Koh Samui” was officially launched on June 18, 2007. This three-phase conservation initiative aims to protect and preserve the environment in order to ensure long-term sustainability.” As stated in samuivillasandhomes.com, 2010 “Waste management is the collection, transporting, processing, recycling or disposal of waste materials”. Waste materials refer to materials produced by human activity and managing the waste refers to the process of reducing the materials effect on the environment. Our goal is to have zero net waste from our headquarters building in five years.” As stated in samuivillasandhomes.com, 2010 “there is use of Effective Microorganisms (EM) in the maintenance of SVH-PVH offices and villas.” EM is the name of a specific group of naturally occurring beneficial microorganisms with an amazing ability to revive, restore and preserve” As stated in the tatnews.org, 2010 “The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Thai tourism industry are jointly pursuing ‘green initiatives’ in an effort to maintain the delicate balance between tourism promotion and environmental protection to ensure long-term sustainability.” 1.7. Benefits of the Study The study results will be used to great a platform for government offices, business individuals, tourists, and the community members to restore the beautiful natural environment and its traditional culture. This will give the direction on how to improve the quality of tourism in Samui as it will remain an attractive tourist destination. Chapter 2 2.0 Literature review 2.1 Concepts and Theories Related Dependent Variable The different stakeholders will be evaluated according to their different obligations and tasks they are supposed to undertake. They will be analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods so as to establish their active role and the achievements in the specified timeline of the project. The different stakeholders and their roles will be the dependent variable. As in the Green Island Project – Koh Samui, 2010, the stakeholders all have their roles to play, where the; State: has to monitor and give directions in the steps necessary to develop and encourage sustainable tourism through the evaluation of the resources available and the targets in the industry. Tourism operators: were to ensure that they operate using environmental friendly ways. The project would initiate behavior change so that the operators may be able to balance their operations and protecting the environment. Public Service Organizations: were to play the oversight role of the implementation of the project. They would conduct the audit, ensure the projects are funded, and establishing mechanisms to help achieve the goals set to protect the environment. Communities: the main role was ensuring there was harmonizing the local individuals to maintain the culture and protect the environment through set measures. The two ideas had to be harmonized with the many other programs running that would affect them. Media representatives: was to raise the awareness of the different environment measures and policies. It would also forge campaigns aimed at environment and culture management. Tourists: the project encouraged visitors to tour environmental friendly destinations and to practice environmentally friendly practices such as appreciation of the local cultures. 2.2 Research finding According to Thai tourism going ‘green’, (2010) the seven green initiative was designed to ensure the establishment and development of a database which would incorporate all the operators in the island that were involved in conserving the environment in their services. It also sought to name and shames those who had harmful effects on the environment and also encourage the ones using environmental friendly measures to continue. The seven greens were the; Green heart: involving measures to encourage environmental friendly and social responsible measures to tourists. Green logistics; use of transport means that were environmental friendly Green destination: visits to environmentally responsible sites encouraged. Green communities: the urban and rural environmental measures by local communities encouraged. Green activities: support of tourism activities that were environmental friendly. Green services: support of tourism services that were environmental friendly. Green plus: the establishment of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by all the operators so that the community will benefit from the tourism sector. The green island project is one of those projects that ensure the environment is protected and exploited in a safer and more sustainable way. The Koh Samui Promotion Association, the Thai Hotels Association Southeastern Chapter and Samui Spa Association have been actively involved in the conservation measures (Green Island Project – Koh Samui, 2010). These organizations have also been supported by the government through Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the provincial authorities, and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS). The launch of the “Green Island Project – Koh Samui” was done on 18th June 2007 which was a three phase initiative (Green Island Project – Koh Samui, 2010). The need for long term sustainability necessitated the need for the launch since all stakeholders had to exploit the natural resources. As stated in Green Island Project – Koh Samui, 2010 the Green Island Project – Koh Samui was “an umbrella organization to network and encourage an environmentally aware mindset on Koh Samui.” The project was to network and ensure all organizations had the awareness in all aspects of environmental conservation. The project was to be covering a span of ten years while the initial phase was to be in three years. A similar project had been launched that was the seven greens environmental conservation pledge that aimed at environmental management and prevention from protection (Thai tourism going ‘green’, 2010). The Green Island Project – Koh Samui was as a supplement to the efforts of the seven greens project and they all worked together to ensure protection of the Koh Samui Island environment. The great tropical Koh Samui Island (also referred to as the Samui Island) has been widely recognized for the natural features and is ever vibrant from its tourism. According to TAT news the island is Thailand’s most popular tourist destination. In the year 2007 it ushered in more than 1,059,642 tourists which was a 2.82% increase from the previous year (Green Island Project – Koh Samui, 2010). Due to this huge number of visitors the natural ecosystem was faced with extinction if stakeholders would not come up with management measures to make the island sustainable. All the stakeholders including the state agencies, local communities, tourism operators, media representatives and visitors/tourists were encouraged to participate in the project to ensure the environment was protected. The conservation principles that were applied included the conservation of energy and the use of renewable energy; conservation of water i.e. reducing and reusing; management of waste i.e. reducing the wastes, reusing, and recycling; the involvement of local communities in the conservation measures; and the emission reduction (Charter on sustainable and responsible tourism and travel, 2010). The Green Island Project if worked out efficiently and effectively would greatly impact positively in the long term sustainability of the Koh Samui. 2.3 Conceptual Framework The need to have a comprehensive ecological framework that protects and ensures long term sustainability in the Koh Samui Island necessitated the Green Island Project. To solve the overexploitation problems and ensure a comprehensive plan is required. All the stakeholders have a role to play and they need to ensure that they play it perfectly. This study mainly evaluates the policies Of Green Island Project: Koh Samui specifically detailing the five areas of successful evaluation of Green Island project which is meeting the need of ecotourism policy in Koh Samui, Thailand. These areas include accumulation of garbage, chemical contaminants and other pollutants, water resources, ecology damage of seas and beaches, congestion, air and noise pollution, and vehicle overloading, and cultural deterioration. For the research it will combine qualitative quantitative analysis. In the qualitative there will be document research, observation, participation, focus groups and in-depth interviews. The population of interest will be the government officers, local business people, public service organizations, Community members, media, and tourists. Sampling strategies that will be used to obtain the questionnaire and interview data will include; random sampling and stratified sampling strategies. The data will be analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods to make the research accurate and address the Early Stages of Policy Evaluation of Green Island Project: Koh Samui’s (Thailand). They will be aimed at analyzing and understanding of behavioral characteristics. 2.4 Hypothesis The hypothesis to be tested will evaluates the policies Of Green Island Project: Koh Samui specifically detailing the five areas of successful evaluation of Green Island project which is meeting the need of ecotourism policy in Koh Samui, Thailand. In the study each stakeholder will be evaluated differently on the different tasks they undertake to preserve the environment in the five different areas. Their effectiveness and commitment will also be evaluated. These areas include accumulation of garbage, chemical contaminants and other pollutants, water resources, ecology damage of seas and beaches, congestion, air and noise pollution, and vehicle overloading, and cultural deterioration. Chapter 3 3.0 Research Methodology 3.1 Qualitative Research Methods This method has a very special value for the investigation of complex and issues that are sensitive. It usually excels in the generation of detailed information. It also involves the collection of numerical data; however in the detailed research, data themselves both shaped and these nights limit the analysis. 3.1.1 Documentary research This will involve the use of texts and documents as sources of data. This will be used due to its reliability as a source of evidence in the research. This will be used in support of viewpoint or argument. The process of documentary research will involve some conceptualizing, assessing and using documents. The document analysis in documentary research will combine qualitative quantitative analysis. (Prior, 2003) 3.1.2 Observation This mainly will involve the researcher just making observations; however, it may also involve careful listening and looking. This method will be used because; the method is flexible and need not to be structured around the hypothesis. This will be used before the formulation of research questions. The observational research, findings are always considered very strong in reliability, as the research is able to collect depth information bout a certain behavior. However, the method has a problem with reliability and generalizabilty. In addition, the method suffers from researcher’s bias. 3.1.3 Participation This method will aim at the involvement of people living in the highland and those managing the project, in the research process. This helps in filling some of the gaps between the researcher and the subjects of research. In this process, the subjects will be active research participants, other than remaining passive objects of research. The research process will include; identification of research questions, designing and planning the research. Research subjects will share their information based on experience, hence, the creation of relevant research knowledge on them. However, the participation will be voluntarily other than being compulsory. The research participants will decide when to or not to participate in the research. The ultimate target of using this method in this study will be to ensure that, the research outcomes will contribute to sustainable, positive change towards the Policy Evaluation of Green Island Project. 3.1.4 Focus Groups This will involve the invitation of prominent persons in the field of policy evaluation by the researcher to discuss the research topic. It will be in a form of interviewing. They will be used to evaluate Green Island Project. In addition, they will be called upon to generate other projects for further research in the field. They will help in exploring hypothesis, and even in the development of research questions. However, focus groups are limited in their ability to generalize findings to the whole population, as they are just a few, hence not representing a larger population. This research will draw upon respondents’ feelings, views, and even reactions; which might be independent of a group partially, but more likely to be depicted through social gathering and interactions, that being in a focus group entails. The group will clarify on power full differences that have existed between the participants and decision makers. The method is time consuming and very costly as compared to other methods. It will also be very difficult to assemble to focus group, (Gibbs, 1997). 3.1.5 In-depth Interview This will be conducted on one to one technique. This technique will be used to elicit vivid pictures of the perception of the participants on the topic of research. The researcher’s techniques of interviewing in this method will be motivated by the need to lean everything shared by the participants. This method will be much useful for learning about individuals perspectives. They are also effective method for individuals to talk about their individual experience, perspective and even opinions. Nevertheless, they provide appropriate conditions to address sensitive topics that may seem to be reluctant to discuss in a group setting. 3.1.6 Population and Sampling The population of interest will includes the government officers, local business people, public service organizations, Community members including media, and tourists. This is because they will be in a better position to provide necessary and relevant information. Sampling strategies that will be used to obtain the questionnaire and interview data will include; random sampling and stratified sampling strategies. Use of random sampling will ensure that a group of the entire population is going to be selected to represent it in the research being done. Stratified sampling strategies are the one which will be used to first subdivide the population to identifiable sectors such business community and (Al-Hajri, 2008). Random sampling will cover a number that will be chosen randomly without much consideration and will cover a great area depending on the response of the respondent provision of relevant information. 3.1.7 Data Analysis The obtained information will be required to be analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods to ensure that the research is accurate and will be able to address the Early Stages of Policy Evaluation of Green Island Project: Koh Samui’s (Thailand). Use of both analytical methods will be beneficial because qualitative methods will be used for analyzing and understanding of behavioral characteristics and the reasons which support such characteristic by different stakeholders towards Early Stages of Policy Evaluation of Green Island Project: Koh Samui’s (Thailand). The analysis will mainly concentrate on understanding the how and why they behave so but not what, when or where such instances takes place. While, quantitative will mostly be used for statistical analysis of the research which will be beneficial mainly for comparison and generation of trend of the growth of the services vis-à-vis the different factors which affect it within a given period. Chapter 4 4.0 Data Collection The information will be collected from the population of interest are: the government officers, local business people, public service organizations, Community members including media, and tourists. The primary sources of data collection will be used so ensure that the research to be carried out becomes successful are interviews and observation. These proposed interviewees will be selected because of their current functions/responsibilities, which are core to daily operations Green Island Project: Koh Samui’s. Interviews will mostly assist the research to gain knowledge of the perception of the respondent about how online banking is affecting the lives of Saudis. Both the interviewer and the interviewee would be able to clarify on issues of the research being done hence, being able to obtain information which is well elaborated, opinionated and authenticated. The respondent would be interviewed through t telephone and through physical contact. The interview guide to be used will include both open ended and closed due to the educational level of the respondent and also due to the acquaintance of the respondent knowledge of Green Island Project: Koh Samui’s and its influencing factors on the tropical island of koh’s environment. The researcher will also carry out observation method by carefully listening and looking the predetermined variables in the area. Materials from the library, internet and related research reports will be read and analyzed to provide the required data and information on the subject. Time Frame Milestone Description Due date Remarks 1 Stage 1: Area of interest identified Done. 2 Stage 2: Specific topic selected Done. 3 Stage 3: Topic refined to develop dissertation proposal Done. 4 Stage 4: Proposal written and submitted June 23, 2010 5 Stage 5: Collection of data and information August 30, 2010 6 Stage 6: Analysis and interpretation of collected data/information October 30, 2010 7 Stage 7: Writing up December 15, 2010 8 Stage 8: Final draft prepared – submission of dissertation December 31, 2010 9 Final Deadline – nine months from classroom date. January 28, 2011 Reference Charter on sustainable and responsible tourism and travel, (2010). samuivillasandhomes.com Retrieved On December, 5 2010, from: http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/koh-samui-sustainable-tourism.html Gibbs, A. (1997). Focus Groups. sru.soc.surrey.ac.uk Retrieved On December, 5 2010, from: http://sru.soc.surrey.ac.uk/SRU19.html Green Island Project – Koh Samui, (2010). Retrieved On December, 5 2010, from: http://www.tatnews.org/tat_news/3854.asp Prior, L. (2003). Using Documents in Social Research. London: Sage Thai tourism going ‘green’, (2010). tatnews.org Retrieved On December, 5 2010, from: http://www.tatnews.org/tat_news/3852.asp Thegreenislandproject. (2010). The Green Island Project. thegreenislandproject.org Retrieved On December, 5 2010, from: http://www.thegreenislandproject.org/Download/green%20island%20project%20english%20document.pdfS Read More